CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1921, Page 3

CRICKET.

UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. A CRICKET CRITIC. Received TnU Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 29

Sewell writing in the “Daily Chronicle” says if Fry is not available for the other tests, he hopes McLarcti will lie induced to captain England and put some ginger into the batting about number 8. It is a mistake including Howell when there is rain about. If the game ends on a howler’s wicket Makepeace will he sighed lor. Althoug i Saturday’s conditions were all in Howell’s favour, the results were nil. because it is no good howling wide ot the off stump to class hatting.

TEST MATCH CRITICS. LONDON, May 29. McLaren writing in the “(Sunday Express" says he thinks it is a pity to begin tests on Saturdays, because so much can happen to the wiekets on Sundays, with the result that winning the toss becomes a greater -advantage than ever. All cricketers want to see jjhe element of luck eliminated as much as possible. He declares there aro plenty of 'gixid amateurs in England who are refusing to plnv owing to lack of consideration shown for their convenience.. They prefer to stand down rather than undergo four months hard

preparation. Gilbert Jessop, writing in “Lloyd’s Weekly” says though the advantage is with the Australians so far in the first test, there seems all the makings of a pretty finish. England’s batting was not a true criterion of its run-getting powers. 1 have sufficient confidence in the team to prophesy that the second innings will he worthier of English test batting tradition. With l'ain in the offing, our advantage in winning the toss disappeared, but with a continuance of fine weather we need not despair of the match being saved. Bardsley’s innings was the days outstanding battle feature, for soundness combined with clear incisive strokes. I doubt whether ho ever played better. He appeared set for a century before be misjudged Woolley’s pace. As a whole, the wicket gave some assistance to the bowlers, differing pac<te of the ball when leaving the ground keeping the batsmen in a continual uncertainty. The Australian bowling was extraordinarily rrood. Gregory, after an initial stiffness due to the cold wind, bowled as well as I have ever seen a fast bowler in tests. His knack of making the ball rise suddenly entitles him to be classed with Richardson and Lockwood, though his figures do not flatter him. McDonald W ns scarcely Gregory’s inferior.

THE TEAMS’ DISPLAY. LONDON,, May 29. Apart from Holmes, the English batsmen were seldom convincing after the first quarter of an* hour, when Gregory found his length, while McDonald’s consistent length and clever pace changes kept the batsmen on tlie defensive. T?ichnioiid turned the ball a lot. aided bv the loosening wicket. Bardslev and Armstrong batted stubbornly and coiefullv but failed to master <’ bowline. Woolley was accurate and kept the batsmen defending four 1 ■ befores, equals the test record.